Hydrocarbon-vapor burner.



W. J. PRY.

HYDROGARBON VAPOR BURNER. APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.25.1907.

909,881 Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. J. FRY.

HYDROCARBON VAPQR BRNBR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25, 1907.

909,881 Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. FRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOAURORA ILLUMINATING AND MANTLE COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HYDRooARBoNQVAPoR BURNER.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed September 25, 1907. Serial No. 394,487.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM J. FRY, citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hydrocarbon-VaporBurners, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a hydrocarbon vapor burner, and moreparticularly to a burner adapted to burn interchangeably either ordinaryilluminating gas or hydrocarbon vapor.

The object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus by whichilluminating gas may be employed as a preliminary means of securing aninstantaneous light and for providing heat for vaporizing thehydrocarbon, the vapor of which may then be substituted for theilluminating gas.

My invention consists of parts and combinations of parts hereinafterfully set forth in the description and claims, and may be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a side elevation of the burner with the hood in section; Fig. 2 is acentral vertical section, with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is afragmentary section on the line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. fl is a section of themixing tube, at right angles to the section thereof shown in F ig. 2;Fig. 5 is a section on line 5"-5 of Figs. 2 and l.

Like parts are designated by the same letters of reference throughoutthe several views.

My invention provides the usual mixing chamber 1, communicating withwhich are the air inlet pipes 2 and 3 for supplying air to be mixed withthe illuminating gas or the hydrocarbon vapor, as the case may be,admitted to said chamber. The mixing chamber 1 is provided with an inlet4 for hydrocarbon vapor and one or more inlets 5 for illuminating gas.Suitable means are provided whereby the admission of one or the other ofsaid illuminante through its inlet 4 or 5 respectively, is controlled.From the chamber l, the gaseous mixture passes through a tube 6 to theburner tubes 7, 7.

The pipes 8, 9 are supply pipes for illuminating gas and for gasolene orother liquid hydrocarbon, respectively, and are threaded in or otherwisesuitably attached to pipe 8 to a tube 12. The flow of gas through theopening 11 is controlled by a valve 13, which may be in the form of anordinary rotary spigot plug, the casting 1() forming a seat for saidvalve. The tube 12 communicates with an opening 14 in a delivery head15. Said opening lil communicates with a chamber' formed by a cap 16threaded on the lower end of the head 15. Said chamber has one or moreopenings 5 forming inlets, as before stated, to the mixing chamber 1.The casting 10 is also provided with an opening 17 leading from the pipe9 to a tube 18 which surrounds the tube l2 and is threaded in the end ofthe casting or otherwise suitably attached thereto. The flow of theliquid hydrocarbon from the supply pipe 9 into the tube 18 is controlledby a stop valve 19, which may be in the form of an ordinary screw-downvalve, as shown. The threaded stem of the valve 19 has a seat in ahollow pin 20, threaded in the casting 10, thus permitting the insertionof packing 21 about the valve plug.

The heat due to the combustion of the gas or hydrocarbon vapor heats thepipe 18, such heating effect being facilitated by the hood 22, whichincloses the parts and is supported thereon in any suitable manner. Theliquid hydrocarbon is thus heated in its passage through the tube 18 andis converted into vapor. To facilitate this operation a wick 23preferably of wire gauze or other reticulated material is inserted inthe space between the tubes 12 and 18, thus checking the flow of theliquid and distributing it uniformly about the internal walls of thetube 18.

The tube 18 threads in a collar 21 and communicates with a chamber 25formed within said collar. The Collar 24 is threaded about the head 15,the parts being thus assembled in such a manner as to seat the ends ofthe tube 12 in alinement with the openings 11 and 14 in the casting 10andl head 15, respectively. YWithin the chamber 25 is a strainer 2G,which is adapted to strain the vapor of its small solid particles whichif permitted to pass out with the vapor might choke or clog the minutepassages through which the vapor must subsequently pass. A largestraining surface is thus secured which is provided with so large avnumber a common casting 10. Extending through f of interstices that thecomplete clogging the casting is an opening 11 leading from the lthereof is practically impossible.

Within the head 15 is a passage 27 which leads from the chamber 25 to acliznib`e`r`98N withinthe head 15.- Threaded inthe head 15 is a hollowpin or nozzle 29 one end of which projects into the chamber 28. Theother `end of the nozzle is tapered and lits in a hole in the bottom ofthe cap 16, pro-VVA jecting a short distance through said hole. Theprojecting end of the nozzle 29 is provided with a minute opening 4forming the inlet above referred to to the mixing cham-- ber 1. Theliquid when vaporized is thereby placed under such great pressure thatthe inlet 4 is necessarily small in order that too great a supply of theilluminant will not be furnished. Owing to the small size of thisopening it is likely to clog up if any particles of solid material areentrained by the vapor passing through the inlet 4. For this reason haveprovided a strainer 2G as before stated. As an additional precaution,the passage 27 has a downward extension 30 forming` a pocket into whichsolid particles may fall in case such should pass through the strainerQ6. Even if a particle should pass into the chamber 28 it will bedropped at the bottom thereof rather than pass upward as would benecessary before it could enter the opening in the nozzle 29. I havethus provided means by which the stoppage of the inlet 4 is prevented.

As hereinbefore stated, the chamber 1 is provided with the usual airinlets 2, 3. I have further provided means in connection therewith toprevent the air passing in the forni of blasts into the mixingchamber 1. Such blasts of air would cause surging 0r unequal pressure inthe tubes 6 and 7, which, as is obvious, would produce a correspondingeffect on the flame. In order to prevent such blasts and to furnish auniform supply of air to the chamber l, a seini-circular baffleplate 50is interposed in the air passages in such manner that the air cannotblow directly into the chamber, but passes around the ends of the plate50. rIhe plate 50 is part of a cylindrical collar 31, one end of whichis threaded upon the head 15 and the other end of which receives thetube 6. Said collar has a semi-cylindrical section out away opposite theplate 50 as at 32, to permit access of the air to the mixing chamber 1.The air-inletV pipes 2, 3 are preferably in the form of rectangularelbow pipe with an opening through the elbow for receiving the 4collar31 land the tube 6, the lower wall of said elbow-pipe being clampedbetween the lower end of the collar 3l and a flange on the tube 6.

The mixture of air and gas or vapor passes through the tube 6 to theburner tubes 7. I have shown in the drawings burner tubes suitable forsupporting a pair of inverted incandescent mantles 33. Burner tips 34are threaded on the ends of the tubes 7. Mounted'upon the end of thetubes 7 and v"withinthe tips 34 are spreaders 35 in the form of thimblesprovided with small holes for sprea-ding orbrealring up the gas orvapor. The spreaders 35 maybe held in place by their rims resting onlugs 36 upon the interior of the tips 34.

It must be understood that when gasolene or other hydrocarbon vapor isused, the pressure thereof is much greater than that of illuminatinggas, which is ordinarily under comparatively low pressure. The ordinaryspreader used in connection with gasolene vapor burners would not besuitable in connection with ordinary gas, owing to the low pressureunder which said gas is supplied. @n the other han-d, the usual gauzecap or spreader employed in incandescent gas burners is unsuitable foruse in connection with hydrocarbon vapor which is under relatively highpressure. The spreader of my invention is designed and has been foundsuitable for use with either illuminating gas or hydrocarbon vapor. 1twill be observed that it has a large spreader surface, the thimblehaving perfo-rations upon the side as well as the end. Therefore, theopenings in the spreader are sufliciently numerous to permit an ampleflow of the low pressure gas. The large number of openings also obviatethe danger of the spreader becoming clogged by soot to such an extent asto seriously impair its efficiency.

The internal diameter of the tip 34 about the spreader 35 is somewhatgreater than the diameter of the tube 7 to permit the gas to escape fromthel sides of the spreader. The exit opening 37 in the burner tip issomewhat contracted however.

VVith such construction of spreader and burner tip, I have found that ablue flame,V

indicating perfect combustionv and which does not smut theparts,'projects from the end of the spreader through the opening 37, andis sufliciently strong to thoroughly illuniinate the incandescent mantle33.

A further advantage of this particular construct-ion of spreader and tipis that in extinguishing the light when the hydrocarbon vapor is beingconsumed the customary yellow vapor, which continues for a short timeafter the gasoiene is turned off, is confined about the opening 37 anddoes not extend back to the spreader 35. Consequently, the usualsmutting of the spreader is prevented. The chamber about the spreaderdoes not smother the iame and consequently a blue flame is the only kindthat burns wit-hin the burner tip. Such continued burning after thevalve 19 is closed is due to the vaporization of the liquid hydrocarbonwhich has accumulated in the tube 18. Of course, after t-he supply valveis closed, said vapor continues toy pass for some time through the inlet4, but under extremely low pressure, causing the yellow flame referredto. Ithas been customary to prevent this yellow flame and its consequentsmutting effect by providing means for preventing the flow of the vaporthrough the t-ube G after the stop valve 19 has been closed, and thusinnnediatelv extinguishing the light. Since the structure of myinvention is practically free from injurious smutting by said yellowflame, the provision of such means is not strictly necessary. I have,however, in the drawings shown improved means for immediatelyextinguishing the light, which means consist of a shutter 38, pivoted at39, whereby the inner end of the shutter can be swung over the inlet 4,as shown in full lines in the drawing. Vhatever vapor may then escapethrough the inlet 4 will impinge against said plate and being deflectedwill pass out through the air inlets 2, 3 instead of passing through thetube 6. The shutter 38 is moved into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 5, when the hydrocarbon vapor is to be consumed by the burner.

A stem 40 threaded at one end in the burner tube midway between theburner tips supports upon its lower end an inverted canopy 41 of mica orother transparent inaterial. Said canopy lies beneath the mantles 33 andin case a portion of the mantle shall accidentally break off and fall,it will be caught by the canopy 41. The danger of lire from portions ofthe heated mantle falling upon combustible material is thus overcome.

I have shown the apparatus of my invention equipped with a pilot lamp42, as is customary, to ignite the gas when the valve 13 is opened. Asshown in Fig. 3, the flow of gas to said lamp is regulated by ascrewvalve 43 which controls an opening 44 communicating with one arm ofthe gas passage 11 through the casting 10. A feature of the pilot lampconsists in the burner tip 45 thereof. Said tip is provided with aplurality of openings about its sides. rlhe gas within the chamber 46 ofthe tip becomes mixed with air which is forced in through the opening oropenings on the side against which the draft of air blows, producing aBunsen burner effect, and it results that the combustion is perfect asindicated by the strong blue flame of the pilot lamp, instead of theusual weak red flame. The flame of the ordinary pilot lamp is such thata slight puff of air will blow it out. In the pilot lamp of myinvention, however, such putt' of air will merely result in transferringthe flame to the opposite side of the tip and produce more or less theeffect of a blow-pipe. It is apparent, therefore, that my inventionprovides a pilot of increased efficiency.

It will be observed that I have provided in a single structure a burnersuitable for using either ordinary illuminating gas or hydrocarbon vaporwhich apparatus may readily be attached to the usual gas supply pipe. Anobjection to the use of gasolene or other liquid hydrocarbon as anilluminant is that it has been necessary to heat the same to convert itto vapor before it can be used, thus making it impracticable to secure alight without the delay incident to first vaporizing the same. lVith theapparatus of my invention, the gas is lirst turned on by operating thevalve 13, an instantaneous light being thus obtainable. In a short time,the ascending current of hot air and conducted heat heats the tube 18 tosuch an extent as to vaporize any hydrocarbon admitted thereto. At anytime that it is convenient or desirable, therefore, the valve 13 can beclosed and the valve 19 opened, thereby substituting hydrocarbon vaporfor thegas, and owing to the peculiar construction of the spreader andburner tip of my invention, either illuminant may be employed withoutfurther manipulation of the parts other than turning ott one and turningon the other.

I claim 1. In a combination gas and hydrocarbon vapor burner, thecombination with a burner tube and a burner tip therefor, of a conductorfor supplying gas to said burner tube, a vaporizing tube concentric withand inclosing said conductor, said vaporizing tube being arranged to beheated from said burner tip and thereby to vaporize liquid hydrocarbonadmitted into said vaporizing tube, said vaporizing tube having apassage communicating with said burner tube, and means for controllingthe supply of gas and of liquid hydrocarbon to said burner.

2. In a combined gas and hydrocarbon vapor burner, the col'nbinationwith a burner tube and burner tip therefor, of a gas supply tubeextending downwardly and communicating with said burner tube, ahydrocarbon supply tube of greater cross section than said gas supplytube and arranged in concentric relation thereto in position to beheated from said burner tip and also communicating with said burnertube, and means for controlling the supply of gas and of liquidhydrocarbon to their respective supply tubes.

In a combined gas and gasolene burner, the combination with a gas and agasolene supply pipe, a valve casing having two passages thereincorresponding to said supply pipes, valves controlling said passages, agas supply tube ard a gasolene supply tube communicating with saidpassages, said tubes being concentrically arranged one within the otherand a burner tube with which each of said supply tubes communicates.

4. In a combined gas and gasolene burner, the combination with a gas andgasolene supply pipe, a valve casing having two passages thereincorresponding to said supply pipes, valves controlling said passages, agas supply tube and a gasolene supply tube communicating with saidpassages, said latter tube inclosing said former tube, and a I n sburner tube with which each of said supply f tubes communicates.

5. ln a combined gas and gasolene burner, the combination with a gas anda gasolene supply pipe, a valve casing having two passages thereincorresponding to said supply pipes, valves controlling said aassages, agas supply tube and a gasolene supply tube communicating with saidpassages, said latter tube inclosing said former tube, a delive y headhaving two passages therethrough, said gas supply tube communicatingwith one ot said passages, a collar connecting said O'asolene supplytube with said delivery head and providing a chamber within said collarinto which gasolene vapor passes from said gasolene supply'tube, a.

strainer extending across said chamber, said chamber communicating withthe other of said passages in the delivery head, a mixing chamberprovided with inlets from the gas and the vapor passages or" thedelivery head, a burner tube communicating with said mixing chamber, anda burner tip upon the end i of said burner tube.

6. A delivery head provided with an interior chamber, a nozzle threadedin said head with the opening .in its inner end near the top of saidchamber, said head being provided with a longitudinally extendingpassage communicating with said chamber below said nozzle opening, saidpassage also having an extension :torming a pocket, and a iydrocarbonvapor supply tube and a burner tube communicating with the opposite endsof said delivery head.

7. A delivery head for a combined gas and gasolene burner provided witha longitudinal passage for gas and a passage for hydrocarbon vapor, saidlatter passage having a pocket for collecting particles or otherimpurities entrained in said vapor, and terminating in a chamber in theinterior of said head, a nozzle threaded in said head and having itsmouth opening into said chamber near the upper part thereof, a capsecured upon the end of said head, said cap having an opening in whichthe end of said nozzle fits, and said cap also having an opening forpermitting the flow of gas from said gas passage.

8. In a combined gas and gasolene burner, the combination with a gas anda gasolene supply pipe, a valve casing having two passages thereincorresponding to said supply pipes, valves controlling said passages, agas supply tube and a gasolene supply tube communicating with saidpassages, said latter tube inclosing said former tube, a delivery headhaving a longitudinal passage for gas with which said gas supply tubeCommunicates, a collar connecting said gasolene supply tube with saiddelivery head and proy'iding a chamber within said collar into whichgasolene vapor passes from said gasolene supply tube, a strainerextending across said chamber, said delivery head having a passageterminating in a chamber in the interior of said head, a nozzle threadedin said hea and having its mouth opening into said chamber near theupper part thereof, a cap secured upon the end of said head, said caphaving an opening in which the end of' said nozzle tits, and said capalso having an ooening for permitting the flow of gas from said gaspassage, a mixing chamber into which the gas and vapor from saiddelivery head is discharged, a burner tube communicating with saidmixing chamber, and a burner tip upon the end of said burner tube.

9. ln a burner, the combination with a delivery head, means forcontrolling the flow of gas yor other illuminant through said head, acollar secured to said head and forming a mixing chamber at the endthereof, an elbow pipe about said collar to provide air passages, saidcollar being cut away upon the side adjacentthe outer bend of said elbowpipe to permit the ingress of air to mixing chamber, and a burner tubecommunicating with said mixing chamber.

10. The combination with a tube forming a mixing chamber provided withVan inlet for gas or other illuminant, an elbow pipe through the bend ofwhich said tube passes, said tube having a semi-cylindrical portion outaway within the pipe on the side adjacent the outer bend of said elbowpipe, and a burner tube communicating with said mixing chamber.

In. witness whereof, I, hereunto subscribe my naine this 23rd day oitSeptember A. D.,

ILLIAM J. FRY. lditnesses GEORGE E. FOLK, ALFRED H. MOORE.

